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Chapter 33

“Bella, where should I start reading?”

Bella pointed to a spot in the book with her chubby finger.

“Wow, you’ve already read half of this book? It’s pretty thick.”

“Miss Delphine read it to me every day. She picked it out because she said it was a good one.”

“Delphine did?”

Bella stared at Frederic’s face.

“Huh? Sir, did you just smile?”

“No, I didn’t.”

“But your mouth is smiling like this.”

Bella pulled her lips wide apart with her fingers. Frederic couldn’t help but laugh at her silly gesture.

“Sir, you’ve been smiling a lot lately.”

“……”

“I’ve seen it a lot. You smile when you go to training, when you organize books in the study… there’s always a smile on your lips.”

“That’s because…”

Frederic said,

“That’s because Lady Charlie is in Shairo. And I’ll finally get to see her tomorrow.”

“Hmm…”

Bella fidgeted with her fingers. She knew how much Frederic liked Charlie. So she didn’t say anything, but Bella was still a child—too young to pretend to like someone she didn’t.

Bella quickly changed the subject.

“I miss Miss Delphine.”

“You miss Delphine?”

Frederic was surprised, like he hadn’t expected that at all.

Bella had never said she missed anyone—not even her parents. The people in the Frederic household often worried about her because of that.

This child never said she missed her mom or dad…

“Yes, I miss Miss Delphine.”

“This is the first time I’ve heard you say you miss someone.”

“I can’t see my parents, so I can’t miss them in the same way. But I can see Miss Delphine. That’s why I miss her.”

“So if you can’t see someone, you don’t miss them?”

“That’s not it. When you can’t see someone, you miss them even more. But saying it out loud doesn’t change anything, so I don’t say it. Just saying it doesn’t make anything better.”

Frederic looked at Bella quietly. She sometimes said things that were deeply sad—but with such a calm face. Just like now.

He set the book down on the table and gave Bella a tight hug.

“But, sir,”

Frederic loosened his arms and looked at her. Bella looked up at him with her round eyes.

“Are you longing for something?”

“For what?”

“I don’t know. Something. I can’t tell what it is.”

In that moment, Delphine’s face flickered through Frederic’s mind—but it faded away like sand. The image disappeared, and confusion took its place.

‘Delphine? No, that’s not it. If I’m missing anyone, it’s Charlie. Of course it’s Charlie.’

Frederic tried to ignore what he was feeling and made excuses to himself. Bella noticed and said,

“Your eyes looked lost for a second.”

“My eyes?”

“Yeah. It’s when your eyes stop seeing anything in front of you. It means you’re missing something… because nothing you see is what you want.”

Frederic stared at her, surprised.

“Bella, how do you know that?”

Bella giggled.

“I read it in a book.”

“I see. Bella, you’re really smart. You know so much.”

Bella clapped her hands and laughed.

“Really? It’s all thanks to you and Miss Delphine. Only you two read to me. Thanks to you, I get to travel to magical places before I go to sleep.”

“Is that so? Then shall we read some more?”

Frederic opened the book. It was about a young girl who lost her parents and traveled through a magical world. He vaguely remembered reading it when he was a child, too.

‘This girl is a lot like Bella.’

He liked the ending of this book.

The girl goes through tough times but makes good friends and finds love. She remembers the good things and eventually grows up to be a wonderful adult.

‘Delphine really picked the perfect book.’

Frederic thought Delphine was very kind as he started to read aloud.

8. The Big Birthday

It was finally my birthday.

I’d hoped this day wouldn’t come—but it came anyway.

Everything for the party was ready. As soon as you entered the mansion’s front gates, you could see the mermaid fountain. They said it came from Mermaid Island—who knows if that’s true—but it definitely cost a fortune.

‘I even fought with Mom over that fountain.’

I remembered all the times I’d argued with Mom while preparing this party. It had been non-stop fighting.

To the left, there were snacks and desserts. On the right, there were tables and a full meal.

‘Not many birthday parties offer full meals like this…’

It was way too much. But Mom didn’t want to be outdone by anyone, so she went overboard.

I stood at the entrance and looked around the hall.

To be honest, it was all well done. Mom had good taste. But it was still a little too much. The ceiling was draped in fabric, and all the house’s art was on display.

‘It’s… kind of like an art exhibit mixed with a royal wedding. Still, it works somehow. It looks fancy and stylish.’

A red carpet ran down the central staircase, and a little balcony space was set up like a stage.

Mom was already standing on it, preparing a speech.

She’d been rehearsing there for a while, so I was pretty sure she planned to make a big announcement today.

I had a bad feeling. She was clearly hiding something—getting all excited without even telling me what she planned to say.

‘Hmm…’

I walked toward the dessert table. As soon as I got close, Mom and the pastry chef approached.

“Delphine! I made sure to get lots of your favorite—éclairs! They’re from Salon de Châte!”

Mom pointed proudly at the éclairs.

‘My favorite is crème brûlée, though. Charlie and Leo are the ones who like éclairs. Ugh, in this world, people only remember the main characters.’

I turned to the pastry chef.

“Please prepare more crème brûlée.”

Mom looked shocked.

“What? Delphine? Crème brûlée? You don’t even like that stuff.”

“……”

I didn’t feel like explaining what I liked or didn’t like. Not like anyone ever remembered anyway. But I still wanted more crème brûlée.

‘Because I like it. And… because Frederic said it was his favorite, too.’

That’s when I realized why I’d been feeling so weird all day—it was Frederic.

Today was the first time in six years he was attending a party with lots of people.

‘I need to make sure this goes well. If he has a good time, maybe he’ll be willing to go out more.’

I turned toward the doors, picturing Frederic walking in. It felt oddly awkward.

‘It’ll be fine. He’s got Carolina with him, too.’

The maids started lighting the candles. The sun had dipped below the horizon, and the sky was dim.

Mom clapped her hands excitedly.

“Guests will start arriving soon! Get ready, Delphine! You’re the star tonight!”

‘The star…?’

Ever since I got pulled into this novel, I knew one thing for sure—I wasn’t the main character. I was just a supporting role, a background extra.

“I don’t need to be the star. I just hope everything goes smoothly.”

“Oh hush! You’re the only one wearing a white dress today. That makes you the main character!”

Mom straightened the wrinkles in my dress. It was a white silk gown, made just for today.

In this world, there was a tradition—just like how only brides wear white at weddings, the birthday person is the only one allowed to wear white at a birthday party.

‘It symbolizes being reborn pure and new, right?’

I looked at myself reflected in the shiny wall decor. Dressed in white, I looked like a bride on her wedding day.

“…Hehe… seriously…”

That’s when I heard voices at the front door.

Mom lightly tapped my arm and then went upstairs.

“Someone’s here. Delphine! Stand here and greet the guests. I’ll be up on the balcony.”

She walked up the stairs on the red carpet.

‘…? Someone’s already here?’

Voices were getting closer outside. A servant gave me a look asking permission. I nodded.

The doors opened.

“……!”

Charlie.

Charlie was standing at the entrance, framed by the grand open doors.

“……”

The moment I saw her, I froze.

For two reasons: First, because she was stunningly beautiful. And second… because she was wearing a pure white dress.

As if she were the star of the party.

I laughed bitterly to myself.

‘See? She just had to act like the main character.’

Behind her stood other noble girls, dressed in various colors. But standing next to Charlie in white, they all looked like background extras.

Click.

Charlie stepped closer to me.

“Hi, Delphine! It’s been so long! I think the last time we saw each other, we were kids. Do you remember me? Oh wow, you haven’t changed at all!”

Charlie greeted me like we were long-lost friends.

I looked her in the eye and pretended not to recognize her.

“Huh? I’m not sure… I don’t really remember.”

Yeah, I know—it was petty. But it was all I had.

In front of someone who always acted like the main character, like a celebrity… pretending I didn’t recognize her was my tiny act of revenge.

“It’s me, Charlie. You really don’t remember? I even heard a rumor that you broke up with Leo because of me.”